Liquid applicators



Dec. 3, 1963 J, c. THORNTON LIQUID APPLICATORS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledFeb. 6, 1961 1963 J. c. THORNI-'ON 3,112,513

LIQUID APPLICATORS Filed Feb. 6, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United StatesPatent Ofltice 3,112,513 LIQUID APPLICATORS James C. Thornton,Mountsorrel, England, assignor to J. Goddard & Sons Limited, Leicester,England Filed Feb. 6, 1961, Ser. No. 87,262 11 Claims. (Cl. -532) Thisinvention is for improvements in or relating to liquid applicators andis concerned with an improvement in or modification of the inventionforming the subject Of US. patent application Serial No. 805,204, nowPatent No. 3,090,060, filed April 9, 1959. The present invention has forone of its objects to provide for retention of a pad on a head or holderin a simple and effective manner.

In accordance with the invention there is provided a head or holderhaving a mounting on its upper part for a canister to receive the latterin an inverted attitude with its cap removed and a restricted passagewayleading from the canister mounting to the under-sideor" the head orholder, in combination with a compressible pad which extends across thebottom of the head or holder and has its edge portions turned upwardlyaround the side walls thereof and a band to embrace the edge portions ofthe pad and clamp them to the holder, such band being provided withinwardly directed projections to engage in the material of the pad andprevent its edge portions from slipping away from between the band andthe head or holder. The projections aforesaid may be slightly upwardlyinclined so as to resist more firmly any tendency for the edge portionsof the pad to slip downwardly from it, and they may be positioned ingroups at places at which the tendency for the pad to escape from theband is greatest. In a pad which is approxi ately rectangular in broadoutline, groups of the projections may be positioned on the band at thecentral parts of the front and back portions of the band (i.e. the longsides) and if desired at central portions of the short sides.

The provision of projections as aforesaid results in the pad being heldmore firmly in place and enables a pad to be retained satisfactorilyover a relatively shallow depth of the head by a correspondingly narrowband and thus facilitates use of a relatively light weight head which byoccupying less volume requires less material for its construction asWell as of its lightness and reduced bulk. Conveniently the underface ofthe head or holder is formed with channel like recesses oversubstantially its whole area communicating with said restrictedpassage-way as described in said earlier application.

It is advantageous to have the end portions or shorter sides of the bandformed with central upward projections to engage in correspondingrecesses in the shoulder flange on the head for locating the band incorrect positions. These projections may if desired each be formed withor carry ratchet means to engage with the top of the head or holder toretain the band against detachment when in use. When the applicator. isto be employed for certain purposes such as shampooing of carpets, pilefabrics or the like the clamping band may be provided with brushesformed by tufts of bristles, flexible fingers or the like projectingdownwardly from one or both of its long forward and rearward edges to anextent slightly beyond the bottom of the inclined pad.

Certain preferred forms of construction incorporating the foregoing andother features of the invention are illusoliering advantages in use byreason I 3,1 12,5 13 Patented Dec. 3, 1963 trated by way of example inthe accompanying drawings and will now be described with reference tothe drawings in which FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an assembledapplicator head with a canister in place thereon;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a clamping band drawn to a largerscale;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the clamping band takenon the line of III-III of FIG. 2;

FIGURE 4 is an under plan view of the applicator head with the padremoved; 1

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a modified clamping band;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged perspective view of part of the band of FIG. 5;and

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view corresponding to FIGURE 5 butillustrating a further modification.

The applicator head shown in FIG. '1 is suitable for applying liquidpreparations to floors or other surfaces and comprises a body 110,constructed substantially as described in U.S. patent application No.805,204 filed April 9, 1959, now Fat. 11. As in said No. 3,090,060, andfitted with a handle earlier construction the upper part of the body Ithas a connection to receive in liquid tight manner the neck of acanister whereof the cap has been removed such canister being indicatedat 12. In use the canister 12 is thus held in inverted attitude and itsconnection with the body communicates with a restricted passagewayleading from the canister mounting to the under side of the head orholder across which a compressible pad 13 of the form described in saidearlier specification extends with its edge portions turned upwardlyaround the side walls of the holder and clamped in place by a resilientplastic band 14. The latter urges the edges of the pad 13 upwardlytowards a flange 15 projecting outwardly from the top of the body 10. Asshown in FIG. 4 the bottom of the head or holder is formed with grooves16 in criss-cross arrangement which receive liquid from branch passages17 in the head or holder as in the said earlier construction.

It is advantageous to have the head or holder of substantiallyrectangular shape without endwise protuberances and to have the clampingband 14 as thin as is practicable so that the pad when in use canapproach more closely to walls and into corners, narrow recesses and thelike. The shoulder or outward flange 15 on the body of the head up towhich the band 14 can be moved to clamp the edge of the pad 13 isdesirably also made with a correspondingly narrow outward extent ofprojection.

In carrying out the invention the clamping band 14 is provided withinwardly directed projections 18 to engage in the material of the pad 13and prevent its edge portions from slipping away from the ban-d 14 andthe body portion 10. The projections 18 are positioned in groups nearthe centres of the long sides 19 of the band 14, that is to say atplaces at which the tendency for the pad to escape :from the band isgreatest. There may be similar projections positioned towards thecentres of the shorter sides of the band 14. As shown more clearlyinFIG. 3 the projections '18 are preferably slightly inclined upwardly soas to resist more firmly any tendency for the edge portions of the pad13 to slip downwardly from the band 14. As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 theband 14- has its end portions or shorter sides formed with centralupward projections 20 to engage in corresponding recesses 21 in theshoulder or flange for locating the band 14 in correct position. Theprojections may each be formed with or carry latching means as laterdescribed.

The applicator may readily be adapted for use in applying liquids forother purposes than cleaning or polishing floors or other smoothsurfaces. For example it may be employed for shampooing of carpets, pilefabrics or the like in which case it is advantageous to fit a modifiedband as illustrated at 22 in FIG. 5 in place of the band 14. The band 22is fitted along one or both of depending brushes 23 formed by tufts orbristles preferably forming a continuous brush and either set into thematerial of the band 22 or carried ina mounting strip secured inconvenient manner to the band for example by adhesive. The band 22 isshown as having the inward projections 18 in groups both on the longsides 19 and at the shorter sides or ends of the band. The band 22 isalso shown as having central upward projections 24 of a modified formcorresponding to the projections 20 of FIGS. 1 and 2. The projections 24are each provided with latching means formed as an inwardly directedtooth 25, see FIG. 6, to engage on the top of the body It) adjacent tothe appropriate recess 21 so as to retain the band 22 against undesireddetachment from the body 10 when the applicator is in use. Due to theresilient nature of the material of the band 22the latching tooth can bemade to snap on to the head or holder when the band is applied, and canreadily be released from engagement therewith when it is desired toremove the pad.

With an appliactcr fitted with the brushes 23 and employed for treatmentof carpets, fabrics and the like there is greater tendency for the padto be pulled from the head during use and this tendency will beeffectively counteracted by the inward projections 18 on the band 22 andby the latch means provided by the teeth 25 at opposite ends of the band25 serving to hold the band against detachment from the head.

FIG. 7 shows a somewhat modified form of the band 22 in which along oneside 19 a different form of brushing device is provided. This is formedby a succession of flaps or fingers indicated at 26 which may be fittedin edge to edge arrangement or with a slight spacing between them.Alternatively a continuous flexible blade may replace the flaps 26 andextend similarly over the whole width of the holder. The flaps orfingers 26 or an equivalent flexible blade may be mounted on the band 22in a similar fashion to the mounting of the bristles 23 and like thelatter are preferably caused to extend downwardly to slightly beyond thebottom of the applied pad.

A liquid applicator fitted with brushes or equivalent means and intendedfor use in applying a shampooing liquid as above mentioned, mayconveniently be fitted on the rear part of its head or holder with adownwardly projecting rigid or resilient blade extending across the backof the head at a short distance therefrom and at a level above thebottom of the applied pad. Such a blade is indicated in chain lines at27 FIG. 1. By suitably canting the head or holder backwardly during itsmovement across a carpet or fabric to which shampoo has been applied,the blade 27 can be caused to press on the carpet or fabric and squeezethe shampoo solution therefrom.

What I claim is:

V l. A liquid applicator head comprising in combination a body portion,a mounting provided on the upper part of the body portion to receive theneck of an inverted canister, said head being formed with a restrictedpassage Way leading from the canister mounting and with openings on itsunder side communicating with said passageway, a compressible padextending across the bottom of the body portion and having edge portionsturned upwardly around the side walls of the body portion and aresilient plastic clamping band embracing the edge portions of the padand the sides of the body portion and serving to clamp said edge portionto the body portion,

its long sides 19 with v said hand having integral inwardly directedprojections to engage in the material of the upwardly turned portions ofthe pad to prevent the edge portions from slipping away from between theband and the said body portion.

2. A liquid applicator head according to claim 1 having the inwardlydirected projections on the band inclined upwardly to engage thematerial of the pad.

3. An applicator head according to claim 1 having the inwardly directedprojections on the band positioned at the central parts of the ends ofthe bands.

4, An applicator head according to claim 1 having the Q inwardlydirected projections on the band positioned at the central portions ofthe front and back of the band.

5. A liquid applicator head comprising in combination a body portion, amounting provided on the upper part of the body portion to receive theneck of an inverted canister in liquid tight manner, said body portionbeing approximately rectangular in outline and being formed with arestricted passageway leading from thecanister mounting and withopenings on the under side of the body portion communicating with saidrestricted passage way, a compressible pad extending across the bottomof the body portion and having its edge portions turned upwardly aroundthe ends, front and back of the body portion, a resilient plastic bandof rectangular outline embrac ing the up-turned edge portions of the padand the body portion, and groups of inwardly directed projectionsprovided on said band and integrally formed thereon at the central partsof the front and back thereof.

6. A liquid applicator head comprising in combination a body portion, ashouldered flange projecting outwardly from the upper part of said bodyportion and formed with recesses at the sides of the body portion, amounting provided on the upper part of the body portion to receive theneck of an opened and inverted canister, said body portion being formedwith a restricted passageway leading from the canister mounting and withopenings on its under side communicating with said restrictedpassageway, a compressible porous pad extending across the bottom of thebody portion and having edge portions turned upwardly around the wallsof the body portion, a resilient plastic clamping band embracing theup-turned edge portions of the pad and clamping them to the body portionand integraltongue like projections on said band extending upwardly fromthe sides thereof and engaging in the recesses formed in said shoulderedflange on the body portion.

7. An applicator head according to claim 6 wherein the body portion andthe band are of approximately rec tangular form and the said recesses inthe flange and tongue like projections on the band are positionedcentrally of the shorter sides of the body portion and band.

8. An applicator head according to claim 6 comprising latching meansprovided on said tongue like projections on the band to engage with thetop of the body portion and retain the band against detachmenttherefrom.

9. A liquid applicator head comprising in combina tion a body portion, ashouldered flange projecting outwardly from the upper part of said bodyportion and formed with recesses at the sides of the body portion, amounting provided on the upper part of the body portion to receive theneck of an opened and inverted canister, said body portion being formedwith a restricted passageway leading from the canister mounting and withopenings on its under side communicating with said restrictedpassageway, a compressible porous pad extending across the bottom of thebody portion and having edge portions turned upwardly around the wallsof the body portion, a resilient plastic clamping band embracing theup-turned edge portions of the pad and clamping them to the body portionand integral tongue like projections on said band extending upwardlyfrom the sides thereof and engaging in the recesses formed in saidshouldered flange on the body portion and brush members on the clampingband and projecting downwardly from at least one of its forward andrearward edges to extend slightly beyond the bottom of the pad.

10. An applicator head according to claim 9 comprising a downwardlyprojecting blade attached to the body portion to extend across the backthereof at a short distance therefrom and at a level below the bottom ofthe pad.

11. A liquid applicator head comprising in combination a body portion, amounting on the upper part of the body portion to receive the neck of anopen inverted canister, said body portion being formed with a restrictedpassageway leading from said mounting and openings in the under side ofthe body portion communicating with said passageway, a compressibleporous pad extending across the bottom of the body portion and havingedge portions turned upwardly around the side walls of the body portion,a resilient plastic clamping band embracing the up-turned edge portionsof the pad and the sides of the body portion to clamp the pad to theholder, inwardly directed integral projections on said band to engage inthe material of the pad to'prevent its slippage and brush membersprojecting downwardly from at least one of the forward and rearwardedges of the clamping band to an extent slightly beyond the bottom ofthe pad.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,575,057 Johnson Mar. 2, 1926 2,307,858 Rufo Jan. 12, 1943 2,477,777Williams Aug. 2, 1949 2,741,788 Shey Apr. 17, 1956 2,977,615 SzczepanskiApr. 4, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,239,338 France July 18, 1960 1,213,290France Oct. 16, 1959

1. A LIQUID APPLICATOR HEAD COMPRISING IN COMBINATION A BODY PORTION, AMOUNTING PROVIDED ON THE UPPER PART OF THE BODY PORTION TO RECEIVE THENECK OF AN INVERTED CANISTER, SAID HEAD BEING FORMED WITH A RESTRICTEDPASSAGEWAY LEADING FROM THE CANISTER MOUNTING AND WITH OPENINGS ON ITSUNDER SIDE COMMUNICATING WITH SAID PASSAGEWAY, A COMPRESSIBLE PADEXTENDING ACROSS THE BOTTOM OF THE BODY PORTION AND HAVING EDGE PORTIONSTURNED UPWARDLY AROUND THE SIDE WALLS OF THE BODY PORTION AND ARESILIENT PLASTIC CLAMPING BAND EMBRACING THE EDGE PORTIONS OF THE PADAND THE SIDES OF THE BODY PORTION AND SERVING TO CLAMP SAID EDGE PORTIONTO THE BODY PORTION, SAID BAND HAVING INTEGRAL INWARDLY DIRECTEDPROJECTIONS TO ENGAGE IN THE MATERIAL OF THE UPWARDLY TURNED PORTIONS OFTHE PAD TO PREVENT THE EDGE PORTIONS FROM SLIPPING AWAY FROM BETWEEN THEBAND AND THE SAID BODY PORTION.